(26) BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

There is a difference between being baptized with the Spirit -(1 Cor.12:13) and being filled with the Spirit. Baptized with the Spirit is fully explained in a previous Blog. -(7) BORN OF THE SPIRIT. (Rom.8:9)- You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his./ (Gal.5:16)-Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh./ Walking in the Spirit indicates continuous action. If and when we sin, it's because we drift away from walking in the Spirit. (James 1:12)- Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him./ (1 Cor.10:13)- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it./ (James 1:14-15)-Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death./ God knows that the most dedicated of us are still sinful. (1 John 1:9)- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness./ If a person confesses their sin, but is planning to continue that sin, there is no forgiveness. A person must repent also. (Gal.6:7-9)- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soeth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting./ You cannot mock God and get by with it. God looks on the thoughts and intents of the heart. As christians, we must discipline our thoughts. We have to think evil before we do evil. (Prov.23:7)-As he thinks in his heart, so he is./ If we fill our thoughts with Psalms & Hymns, and continually commune with the Lord daily, we can avoid much sin. When we are walking in the Spirit, we discipline our thinking. This is spiritual maturity. If we are available, the Lord will enable us. This is when the Lord Fills us with the Spirit and uses us to witness, or teach, or preach. We are submitting to the Spirits control. John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit from birth. All through the OT & the NT, the Lord filled his children, enabling them to do the work the Lord had given them to do. On Pentecost the disciples were enabled (Filled) by the Spirit to speak in foreign languages that they had not learned. What some of them spoke became scripture. Let me repeat, God enables and uses them who are available. God's children never try to take credit for anything He enables us to do. If we try to take the credit, God can't use us anymore.